Echo torpedo detonator



Nov. l0, 1936. J. H. HAMMOND, JR 2,060,198

ECHO TORPEDO DETONATOR Filed Nov. 2a, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 1 A TT ORNE Z5 Nov. l0, 1936.

J. H. HAMMOND, JR 2,060,198

ECHO TORPEDO DETONATOR Filed NOV. 28, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS hereto, thek invention itself, as to its objects andshown in Fig. 2).

any desired form A suitable oscillator is shown and described in the patent to Lawther No. 1.518,-

Patented Nov. 10, 1936 PATENT OFFICE ECHO TORPEDO DETONATOR John Hays Hammond, Jr., Gloucester, Mass. Application November 28, 19,32, Serial No. 644,613

' z2 claims. (ci. 114-21) This invention relates to the detonation of explosives, and more particularly 'to the exploding ofa torpedo as it passes beneath a ship.

The invention provides a mechanism whereby a series of high frequency compressional waves are emitted from a torpedo 'and impressed upon the surrounding medium. When these waves are reflected froma solid object such as the bottom i of an enemy ship, they are picked up by suitable microphones located on the torpedo, and cause the detonation of the explosive charge of the torpedo. The .invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter setforth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be' characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended advantages, the Amode `of its operationl and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken i in connection with the acompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the forward part of a torpedo provided with this invenl tion,`` j

"Figure 2 illustrates dlagrammatically a modilied form of the invention showinfg' control of the 30 horizontal rudders.. Like'referencetcharacters denote like parts in the several figures of thedrawings.

In thefollowing'gdescription and in the claims, parts will be identied by speciiic names for corivenience, but theyware intended to be as generic in theirapplication to similar parts as the art will permit. if;

Referring to the accompanying `drawings, and

more particularly to ,Fig. 1, there i's shown a water borne body, such as a carrier of explosives, having awater tight torpedo hull IIJ, and arranged to `be propelled inv the usual manner (as byfpropellers 8 and il located at the after end, The hull II) is4 provided-with two transverse bulkheads II and I2, thus providing two compartments I3 and I4, the former being A Vhole is provided in the hull I0 at the top of the compartment I4. This hole` is closed by a, diaphragm Ilwhich is operatively connected to` an oscillator ory receiver .I6, which may be of 123,"iss1 1ed December 2, 1924. This oscillator is illled with an explosive charge, such asoperated by means of a super-audible frequency producing vacuum tube circuit I1, controlled by two contacts I8 and I9. These contacts engage a commutator 2|, which is driven by a clockwork mechanism 22 which may be wound as by 5 a key 23.

The receiver or oscillator I6 transmits compressional waves of super-audible frequency into the water for a purpose hereinafter described more in detail. 10

For automatically starting this mechanism, a heavy weight 24 is securedto the end of a :dat spring 25, the upper end of which is fastened to the casing of the clock mechanism 22. The

A weight 24 is provided with 4a projection 26, which 15 normally engages a finger 21, which controls the starting of the clockwork mechanism. Engaging the end of the finger 21 is a spring 28 which is `supported on a bracket 29. When the weight is moved out of engagement with the finger 21, 20 as by the` sudden starting of the torpedo, the spring 28 forces the finger 21 inwardly, thus starting the clock mechanism operating.

The commutator 2| is made of insulating material and is provided with three segments of con- 25 ducting material 3|. Engaging the commutator 2l are two contacts 32 and 33 which at suitable times close the circuit from an electrical microphone or receiver 34 to vacuum tube detector 35. 'I'he pick-up 34 may be of anydesired form, such 30 for example, as that shown at |05 in Fig. 20 of the patent to Dorsey No. 1,625,245, issued April 19, 1927.

The detector 35` may be of any desired construction, the output circuit of which is connected 35 to a relay 36. This relay controls the circuit to a detonator 31 located in the explosive charge in the compartment I3. i

The microphone 34 has a diaphragm similar to diaphragm I5 of receiver I6, which closes a simi- 40 lar .opening in the side of the hull I0.

In Vthe operation of this system, when the torpedo is re'd, the inertia of the weight 24 causes it to be moved backward relative to the torpedo, thus disengaging theprojection 26 from the finger 45 21 which is moved upwardly under the action of the spring 28. This causes `the .clockwork mechanism 22 to start turning the commutator 2I at a predetermined speed. When the contacts I8 and I9 are on a conducting segment 3l, it will 50 i' cause the generator of `super-audible frequency I1, to generate a current of high frequency, such for example. 20,000 `cycles per second, which is impressed upon the `diaphragm I5, thus generating a series of compressional waves in the water 55 s trikethe under surface of the hull of a vessel above the torpedo, they Will reect or echo back through the water and be received by the electrical microphone 34. This will cause small currents to be generated in the 'winding of this microphone of the same frequency as that produced by the receiver I6. .These currents will be detected or rectified by the detector 35, and direct Y current pulsations caused to pass through the winding of the relay 36, thus energizing this relay, which closes the circuit through the detonator 31, thus exploding the charge in the compartment I3 when the torpedo is directly beneath `the enemy ship.

It is thus seen that in this system, asvsoon as thetorpedo is red, short impulses Aof high frequency compressional waves will be emitted fromYA the diaphragm I5. 'I 'hese waves' will not directly Vaffect Vthe microphone 34, however, as the circuit -of this receiver is open during the time 'these .waves are being produced.

When the torpedo passes `beneath an enemy ship, lthe high frequency waves will be reflected from the'huil of this ship, and will be received by the microphone 34. The time of reception of these waves is' determined by the distance. the torpedo is below the hull of the enemy and by the speed of travel of the sound through the water.

`--passes underneath the ship, .the distance between torpedo and ship will be such .that. the pulses will be received at a time when the contacts 32 40 and 33 are engaged by one of the conducting segments 3|. In this way, in case the torpedo misses a. direct hitwith the ship and passes beneath it as it often does in actual Warfare, it

will be caused to explode directly beneath the ship, thus producing las vmuch damage as though a direct hit were made.

"In the -modied form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the contact of the relay 36 is connected to a solenoid 4I, located in the after-body of the torpedo, instead of to the detonator of 31. The

core of this solenoid normally engages a valve 42 whichis mounted for reciprocation in a valve casing 43, which formsJ partof theend of a cylinder 44. This cylinder 'communicates with the interior of the valve by means of a port 45. Also communicating with the-interior of the valve isa pipe 46, which is supplied with uid under pressure from. any suitable source, not shown. Slidably 'mounted'in -the cylinder 44 is a piston `j"41,`which is operatively connected to an arm48, which is pivoted'by rotation to the shell of the The torpedo is provided with the usual vertical and horizontal rudders 5I and- 52. The latter are operated by means of a link 53 from the horitorpedo at 49.

j zontal steering engine 54, which is supplied with uid under pressure from a pipe 55 and is controlled by a valve 56 operated ina'fwell known manner from the depth mechanism 61. Secured to the link 53 -is a'collar 58 which is located in the path of travel of the arm 48.

Inl the operation of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the torpedo after being fired is maintained at a predetermined depth byv theusual depth control mechanism 61 and hori-l As the torpedo surrounding this valve, thus allowing fluid under' pressure to pass from the pipe 46 through the port 45 to the interior'of the cylinder 44. This causes the piston 41 to be moved to the left, thus rotating the arm 48 in a counterclockwise direction. This arm engages the collar 58 and forces it together with a link 53 to the left, against the action of the steering engine 54, thus throwing the horizontal rudders 52 into the hardup position, which-causes the torpedo to .be .steered sharply upward andagainst the bottom of the hull of the enemy vessel where the war head of the. torpedo is exploded on contact with the hull in the usual manner.

Although only 'affew of the various forms in which this invention may be embodied. have been shown herein, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specic construction,

.but might be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina self propelled body carrying an explosive charge, means for producing compressional waves, means for receiving said compressional waves after reflection from an object, and means operable in response to said received waves for causing the explosion of said charge.

2. In combination with a self propelled body. means for producing a series of short sound impulses, means for receiving said sound impulses after reflection from the hull of a ship, and means operable in response to said sound impulses for causing the detonation of an explosive charge carried by said self propelled body.

3. In combination with a torpedo having a warhead, a sound producer carried on the upper surface of said torpedo, a sound receiver located adjacent thereto, means for causing said sound producer to emit a series of short impulses, and means operated by said sound receiver for causing the explosion of said warhead when said sound impulses are received after reection from the under surface of a vessel.

4. In a self propelled vessel, means associated therewith for transmitting compressione] waves to a surrounding medium comprising a vibratory diaphragm and a space discharge device associated therewith and adapted to vibrate said diaphragm at a' definite predetermined frequency, an electro-magnetic receiving device located on the upper side of said vessel and adapted to receive compressional,v waves reflected from a distant object, a space discharge device associated with said receiving device, means whereby said devices are caused to respond to said frequency, and means operated by said receiving device for causing the detonation of an explosive charge Acarried by said vessel.

5. In a torpedo, an electrical oscillator located on the upper surface thereof and adapted to transmit comprcssional Waves to the surrounding medium, a receiving device located on the upper surface of said torpedo for receiving said compressional waves after reflection from an object.

and means operated by' the energization of said 75 Y 4 2,060,198 receiving device for causing theY explosion of said torpedo. 'l

6. In combination with a self propelled body carrying an explosive charge, means for producing superaudible sound vibrations in the medium surrounding said body, means for receiving said sound vibrations, means for alternately making operable said transmitting and said receiving means and means controlled by said receiving meansl for detonating said explosive charge.

7. In a torpedo, means for producing compressional waves, means for receiving said compression-al waves after reection from a distant object, and means operable on the reception of said waves for causing the detonation of the explosive charge of said torpedo.

. 8. In a torpedo, means for producing Vcompressional waves, means for receiving said compressional waves after reiiectionfrom a distant object, means operable on the reception of said reiiected waves for causing the detonation of the explosive charge of said torpedo, and means for preventing said detonation by the direct action of said waves.

9. In combination with a self propelled body, means for producing compressional waves, means for receiving said compressional waves after reection from an object, andmeans operable in response to said reected compressional waves for causing the body to be directed upwardly.

10. In combination with a torpedo having a warhead, a sound producer carried on the upper surface of said torpedo, a sound receiver located adjacent thereto, means forv causing said sound producer to emit a series of short impulses, and means operated by said sound receiver for causing said torpedo to be steered yupwardly when said sound impulses are received after reflection from the under surface of a vessel.

11. The method of exploding a torpedo which includes producing sound waves on said torpedo receiving said sound waves after reection from an object andcausing said sound waves to explode said torpedo.

12. In a torpedo, an electrical oscillator located on the upper surface thereof and adapted to transmit compressional waves to the surrounding medium. a receiving device located on the upper surface of said torpedo for receiving said compressional waves after reflection from the under side of a vessel, and means operated by the energization of said receiving device for causing the horizontal rudders of said torpedo to be rotated upwardly.

13. In combination with a self propelled body. means for producing super-audible sound vibrations in the medium surrounding said body,

ection from the under side of an object, and i means operable in response to said received waves for causing the explosion of said charge.

15. In a torpedo, means for producing compressional waves of a deinite frequency, means for receiving said compressional waves after reflection from a distant object, and means responsive to said frequency and operable on the reception of said waves for causing the detonation of the explosive charge of said torpedo.

16. In a torpedo, means for producing compressional waves, means for receiving said compressional waves after reection from a distantv object, means operable on the reception of said reected waves for causing the detonation of the explosive charge of said torpedo, and a timing device for controlling the operativeness of said last mentioned means so that it can not be operated by direct Waves.

17. In a torpedo. means for producing and propagating oscillatory energy, a device for receiving said energy after reection from a. surface in the vicinity of said torpedo and means to steer said torpedo upwardly responsive to said device.

18. In a torpedo having a war head, means for producing and radiating energy, means for receiving said energy after reection from an outside object, and means responsive to the received energy to detonate said war head.

19. In a torpedo having a war head, means for producing and propagating compressional vibrations above the audible frequency range, a device for receiving said vibrations after rei'lection thereof from an external surface and means responsive to said device for detonating said war head.

20. In an explosive carrier, means causing said carrier to travel through the water at a depth below the bottom of an enemy ship, a transmitter for transmitting impulses, a receiver for receiving said impulses, and means whereby said receiver is operable for impulses modied by the target only when said carrier has reached a point beneath the bottom of said ship.

21. In combination, a torpedo, means for causing said torpedo to run at a depth below the bottom of an enemy ship such that no part of the torpedo physically engages the ship, a transmitter on said torpedo for transmitting energy through the water, a receiver on said torpedo for receiving said energy, and torpedo control means actuated by said receiver in response to a change in such energy produced by the influence of the ship when the torpedo has reached a point beneath the bottom of the ship.

22. In combination, a torpedo, means for causing said torpedo to run at a depth below the bottom of an enemy ship such that no part of the torpedo physically engages the ship, a transmitter on said torpedo for transmitting energy through the water, a receiver on said torpedo for receiving said energy after reiiection from an external surface, and torpedo control means actuated by said receiver in response to a change in such energy produced by the influence of the ship when the torpedo has reached a point beneath the' bottom ofthe ship.

JOHN HAYS HAMMCND. JR. 

